Red cell distribution width (RDW) as a biomarker for respiratory failure in a pediatric ICU

Background The red cell distribution width (RDW) is a widely available, inexpensive, and highly reproducible test that reflects the range of the red cell sizes. Any process that releases reticulocytes in the circulation will result in an increase in RDW. Elevated RDW values are linked to worsened pulmonary function in the adult population. We performed a retrospective cohort study to describe the association between RDW and respiratory failure in critically ill children in a in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a tertiary university hospital.